Tumbler



May s. 192s. 1,668,778

. l AC. MENNINGEN TUMBLER i `Original Filed Jan.23. 1923 TiG-l- TM Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STA-TES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH C. MENNINGEN, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO KOEHRIN'G COM` PANY, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

TUMBLER.

vOriginal application lcd January 23, 1923, Serial No. 614,3, Divided and this applicationlcd August 8, 1925.

This application constitutes a division of, my pending application for patent, Serial Number 6143i?, filed January 23, 1923, covering improvements in tumbler. Tumblers of the class of this invention are commonly used for .the purpose of supporting or driving, either or both, the endless traction belt or tread of track laying tractors.

.It is obvious that endless belts or treads,

above referred to, are frequently operated in4 soft or mushy ground so that considerable mud and foreign matter engages with the tread in the use of the machine of which the tread forms traction equipment. There is l l cleaned as the traction belt turns aroundthe tumbler. The tumbler embodies peculiarly formed lug recesses enabling the foreign matter lodging thereon to readily pass off therefrom either by gravitation or by being forcibly ejected from the recesses as the lugs on the traction shoes enter said recess.

A full understanding Will be had ony reference to the accompanying drawings, with this description, and in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of av tumbler embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same. Figure 3 is a sectional view t-aken 'about on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Describing the tumbler device of this invention specifically andV referring particularlv to the drawing. the hub'of the tumbler is designated 1a. By means of I thel hub, the tumbler is adapted to be readily mounted upon and keyed to a tumbler shaft. The body of the tumbler surrounding th hub comprises largely a Web 13, thevoutermost portions of which are divided into sections Which are deflected laterally in opposite directions to provide sprocket recesses A. Thelaterally deflected portions of said web extend radially in relation to the hub and provide side Walls 6a for the said recesses. Practically speaking the side Walls 6a of the Serial No. 49,157.

recesses A form continuations of the web 13 'being integral extensions thereof, and as prevlously suggested, said side walls are deflected alternately in the same direction, adjacent of said side Walls extending in opposite directions. v

The-outer edges of the side' Walls 6' are stii'ened by the ribs 14, and the body por# tions-of each side 'wall are reinforced or stift'- ened by radial ribs 15 which extend from the hub 1a to the outer edge of each side Wall 6a, merging into the ribs 14 previously referred to.

Obviously, the lugs recesses A have open outer ends and are each open at one side. Moreover, there are no end Walls for the lug recesses so that mud or foreign matter may be dislodged sidewise, of the recess, radially thereof, and endWise, as Well. The construction of the Whole tumbler is rendered very strong and rigid by the reinforcing ribs and the formation of the recesses A in the vmanner described is conducive to ready dislodgement of mud, dirt and foreign matter "which may be picked up by the tread means which operates/ around the tumbler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is y 1. A tumbler wheel forwtraction devices comprising a hub and radially extending' complemental sections, said sections Abeing offset oppositely from a common plane at the hub so that their corresponding inner faces define reverse curves and thelr edge portions provide'engaging elements for the teeth' of,

an endless traction belt, said sections thereby forming an annular groove about the hub having only side faces.

2. A tumbler Wheel for traction devices comprising .a hub and radially extending sections alternately and correspomilingly offset so that the peripheral portion of thesestions are disposed in spaced parallelf planes to thereby form an annular groove, the radial edge of each section being disposed in a plane contiguous to the adjacent edge of the next section, and the said edge prtions provideengaging elements for the teeth ofl an endless traction belt.

3. A tumbler wheel for traction devices comprising a hub and a bod portion of disk-like form having radial y extending complementari sections, said sections being offset from the body adjacent the hub .so that their corresponding inner faces define realternately and correspondingly olset so' thatthe peripheral portion of the opposing sections are disposed in spaced parallel planes to thereby provide an annular groove, the face of each section forming the basal portion of the groove presenting a laterally inclined surface whereby dirt tending to ad,- here is freely displaced laterally of the section, and the edge portions provide engaging elements for the teeth of an endless traction belt.-

5. In a wheel for traction belts, a hub portion, two series of spaced sections arranged in a circular manner and in spaced planes, whereby to provide therebetween a peripheral groove to receive teeth of a traction belt, the sections of each series being spaced and inclined inwardly and laterally from the outermost' portion of the groove, the sections of the two series being staggered so that adjacent sections extend in opposite directions and thus provide 'discharge passages which'lead inwardly and laterally from the groove throughout its circumference to the side of the wheel. f

6. In a wheel for traction belts, a hub portion, two series of spaced tapered sections arranged in a circular manner whereby they provide therebetween a peripheral groove to' receive teeth of a traction belt, the sections of each ser-ies being spaced and curved inwardly and laterally from the outermost portion of the groove, the sections of the two series being staggered so that the adjacent sections extend in the opposite directions and thus provide discharge passages which lead inwardly and laterally from the groove throughout :its circumference to the side of the wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ADOLPH C. MENNINGEN. 

